Family Members Convicted of $1.2 Million Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – After a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted Jennifer Maldonado, 29, and her father Jorge Maldonado, 52, both of Oviedo, Florida, of conspiracy, wire fraud, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft.  Co-conspirators Sharon Glover and Diane White, both 54 of Sanford, Florida, pled guilty in February 2016 to conspiracy, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft.  The verdicts and guilty pleas were announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

At trial, the government presented evidence that, between 2009 and 2011, Jorge Maldonado and his daughter Jennifer, who were both tax preparers, conspired with Glover and White to obtain more than $1.2 million in income tax refunds issued on fraudulent tax returns.  The Maldonados filed returns that generated refunds.  Glover and White cashed refund checks issued as a result of the fraudulent returns at a Tallahassee supermarket.  They deposited cash proceeds of the checks into the Maldonados’ bank accounts or delivered the cash to the Maldonados.  Glover and White cashed 505 checks by using fraudulent powers of attorney, approximately 16 different forged notary seals, and forged taxpayer signatures.

The defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison for conspiracy and wire fraud, and a maximum of 10 years in prison for theft of government property.  The defendants also face a mandatory term of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, which must be served consecutively to any penalty they receive on the other counts.

The sentencing hearings are scheduled as follows at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee:

• Jorge Maldonado: October 5, 2016, at 9:30 a.m.;

• Jennifer Maldonado: October 5, 2016, at 2:30 p.m.;

• Sharon Glover: August 4, 2016, at 10:30 a.m.; and

• Diane White: September 16, 2016, at 2:30 p.m.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys Herbert S. Lindsey and Gary K. Milligan are prosecuting the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
(850) 216-3854, amy.alexander@usdoj.gov